Loose leaf binder



July 3 1, 1934. A. s. LOTTER LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Jan. 12, 1935 BM/mAda/pk E. LUZ/Er Patented July 31, 1934 LOOSE LEAF BINDER Adolph G.Lotter, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Stationers Loose Leaf Company,Milwaukee,

Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 1.2, 1933, SerialNo. 651,257

6 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in looseleaf binders, and refers more particularly to the provision of keycontrolled means for locking the binder closed, as in Letters Patent No.1,798,478, issued to Adolph G. Lotter, March 31, 1931.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an improved keycontrolled locking mechanism for the purpose described in which thelocking device is attached directly to the binder to preclude thepossibility of its being lost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a small, compact lockingmechanism of simple inexpensive construction mounted on the binder insuch a manner as not to interfere with the normal use of the binder.

And a further object of this invention is to provide a locking mechanismcarried by a stationary partof the binder, and having a locking memberengageable with the locking bar which serves to secure the separablesections together to prevent unauthorized actuation of the locking bar.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such'changes in the precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical emor bodiment of my invention constructed according to thebest mode 1' have so far devised for the practical application of theprinciples thereof, and in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of a visible record loose leaf binderembodying this invention, parts thereof being broken away and insection;

Figure 2 is a section View taken through Fig. 1, on the plane of theline 2-2; but showing only the top portion of the binder head; and

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the locking mechanism and the adjacentend of the locking bar.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing in whichlike numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, thenumeral 4des1gnates generally the back of a loose leaf binder which maybe of the visible record.

type illustrated in Letters Patent No. 1,727,348, issued September 10,1929.

The back 4 comprises a stationary element 5, the side edges of whichhave hinge elements 6 attached thereto for hingedly connecting thecovers (not shown) to the back. At its opposite ends, the stationaryelement 5 has overlying flanges 7 and 8, which serve to hold a pair oftransversely separable sections 9 and 10 on the stationary elemerit. Thesections 9 and 10 carry series of impaling prongs 11 and 12,respectively, which, when the binder is closed, normally have their endsengaged to form binderrings.

Under separation of the sections 9 and 10, the

series of prongs open and permit the insertion or removal of recordleaves. Separation of the sections 9 and 10 is facilitated by handles 13and 14 attached to the ends of the sections adjacent locking bar 15.This bar 15 extends throughout the length of the binder head and. ispositioned over the meeting edges of the separable sections. It islongitudinally slidably mounted by means of posts 16 and 17 fixed to thestationary element 5 of theback adjacent the opposite end portions 1 ofthe bar. A third post, not shown, is also preferably provided at thecentral part of the bar.

The posts 16 and 17 project through elongated slots 18 and 19,respectively, in the bar and have enlarged heads overlying the upperface of the 1 bar to retain the same assembled with the posts.

Adjacent the elongated slots 18 and 19 the bar has interlockingconnections with the separable sections indicated generally by thenumeral 20.

These interlocking connections comprise lugs 21 struck upwardly from theseparable sections to project across the plane of the longitudinallyshiftable bar. Adjacent these lugs the bar is provided with onset orraised portions 22 of sufficient height to permit the lugs 21 to passtherebeneath when the bar is moved to a position aligning the raisedportions 22 with the lugs. Apertures 23 are cut into the bar at one endof each raised portion 22, which apertures have narrow portions 24formed in that part of the bar engaging the separable sections, andwider portions 25 formed in the raised parts 22. Inclined sides 26connect the wide and narrow portions of the apertures so that when thebar is shifted in a direction to move the narrow portions 24 intoalignment with the lugs 21, the lugs will be drawn together and securelyheld against separation to thereby secure the separable sectionstogether.

The slot 19in which the post 17 is received has a pair of tangs 27struck outwardly from its sides to abut the head of post 17 when the baris shifted to its locking position, and a compression spring beneath thebar urges the bar upwardly against the head of the post and maintainsthe locking connection between the tangs 27 and the head of the post.Consequently to shift the bar and free the sections for separation, itis necessary to depress the adjacent portion of the bar and disengagethe tangs 27 from the head of the post 17. This structure is similar tothat shown in Patent No. 1,727,348, issued to Adolph G. Lotter,September 10, 1929.

This inter-engagement of the tangs 27 and head of the post is suflicientto prevent accidental shifting of the locking bar, but does not preventunauthorized shifting thereof. For this purpose, the novel lockingmechanism of this invention is provided.

The locking mechanism is indicated generally by the numeral 28 and ismounted at the end of the binder back having the overlying flange '7. Itcomprises a tumbler lock 29 having a cylinder 30 rotatably mounted in acasing 31. The lock cylinder 30 is provided with the usual springpressedtumblers 32 engageable in locking grooves formed in the casing 31 andretractable to free the cylinder for rotation by the insertion of aproper key 33.

The casing 31 has attaching ears 34 formed on its offset sides which areriveted to the flange 7 as at 35. The lock cylinder is held assembledwith the casing 31 by the engagement of an enlarged flange 36 on itsinner end, in a groove 3'7 formed in a projection 38 on the adjacent endof the casing. The flange 36 is cut away at 39 to permit the projection38 to be passed therethrough so that the lock cylinder may be assembledwith the casing. After assembly, a stop pin 40 is driven into the end ofthe lock cylinder so as to engage the projection 38 and precluderealignment of the opening 39 with the projection. The pin 40 thusserves to define one of the limits of rotation of the lock cylinder.

The other limit of rotation is defined by the engagement of a lockingbolt 41 projecting radially from the inner end of the lock cylinder withthe projection 38 as best illustrated in Fig. 2. One side of the lockingbolt also defines one end of the outlet opening 39.

The locking bolt 41 is adapted to swing down into an aperture 42 cutinto the adjacent end portion of the locking bar 15. The aperture 42 maybe in communication with the slot 18, although this is not necessary.

To enable alignment of the aperture 42 with the locking bolt 41 and toobviate increasing the size of the binder back, the flange 7 ispreferably cut away, as at 43, to accommodate the adjacent end portionof the bar 15.

The operation of the locking mechanism is extremely simple, for to lockthe binder it is only necessary to shift the bar 15 to its operativelooking position and then turn the lock to engage the bolt 41 in theaperture 42.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art towhich an invention of the character described appertains, that thisinvention affords a novel and simple locking mechanism for loose leafbinders and that by reason of its simplicity and small size, it does notinterfere with the normal use of the binder. I

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a loose leaf binder comprising prong carryingsections transversely separable on substantially a common plane and amovable member for securing the prong carrying sections againstseparation, said movable member being longitudinally movable into andout of engagement with abutments carried by both of said prong carryingsections, of a key operable locking device, means to permanently mountthe locking device adjacent one end of the movable member, and a lockingbolt actuated by said locking device and engageable with the movablemember to releasably secure the same against longitudinal movement froma position actively engaging the abutments of both sections.

2. The combination with a loose leaf binder having prong carryingsections mounted on a stationary element for flatwise motion toward andfrom each other, of a locking mechanism to secure said sections againstmovement, comprising a member having an interlocking connection withsaid sections which connection is releasable upon longitudinal movementof said member in one direction, a key controlled locking memberpermanently mounted on said stationary element, and a cooperatinginterlocking connection between said locking member and the movablemember to secure said movable member against longitudinal movement insaid direction.

3. In combination with a loose leaf binder of the type having separableprong carrying sections mounted on a supporting back and alongitudinally shiftable locking bar operable to secure the prongcarrying sections against separation, of alocking device including arotatable key controlled lock cylinder, a mounting barrel for thecylinder permanently fixed to part of the supporting back, and a lockingbolt movable with the cylinder into and out of locking engagement withsaid longitudinally shiftable bar to secure the bar against longitudinalmovement.

4. In a loose leaf binder including relatively movable prong carryingsections and a longitudinally shiftable locking bar operable to securethe prong carrying sections against relative movement, of locking meansto secure the longitudinally shiftable bar against movement and lock thesections closed, comprising, a look cylinder having key operabletumblers, a casing to mount the lock cylinder adjacent one end of saidlongitudinally shiftable bar, and a locking bolt on the lock cylinderengageable in an aperture formed in the locking bar to secure the sameagainst shifting.

5. In a loose leaf binder having transversely separable prong carryingsections mounted on a stationary element and having a longitudinallyshiftable locking bar operable to secure the prong carrying sectionsagainst separation, of locking means to lock the bar against shifting,comprising a lock cylinder having key operable tumblers, a casing forthe lock cylinder permanently attached to said stationary elementadjacent one end of the locking bar, and a locking bolt on said cylinderengageable with the locking bar to secure the same against longitudinalshifting.

6. In a loose leaf binder having transversely separable prong carryingsections movably mounted on a stationary element which stationaryelement is provided with a flange overlying the prong carrying sections,a longitudinally shiftable locking bar operable to secure the prongcarrying sections against separation and having one end disposed nearthe overlying flange, a tubular casing attached to said overlyingflange, a lock cylinder having key operable tumblers mounted in saidcasing and a locking bolt on said cylinder engageable with thelongitudinally shiftable locking bar to secure the same againstlongitudinal shifting.

ADOLPH G. LOTTER.

